Picture this; you've spent some time hiking into a small stream in the back country. It's early morning, mist is rising and the midges that have been swarming around you are breakfast for the small browns you have come to catch. You quietly walk up to the stream, watching the swirls of rising fish. You tie a nymph onto your leader and step into the water.
A trout skids away from under your feet, its flight sending out warning signals as bright as any neon light. The feeding fish flee in response and you are left with a section of river devoid of all but the midges. Welcome to fly fishing the small stream.
Stop and look before fly fishing the small stream
Before you get into the water stop and look at what is in front of you. This is especially true when approaching the small stream. Trout are well camouflaged, especially when you are looking down into the water. (A good pair of Polaroid glasses helps here.)
I like to make my first cast well back from the waters edge. If there is little cover then I tend to use a long leader and lay the line on the riverbank, allowing only the leader to enter the water, as close to the near bank as possible. That way, if there are any fish lying close under the bank, I will have given them first look at my fly.
Reading the water of the small stream
The waters of the small stream are like those of any river, just on a smaller scale. The fish will be in the same types of water that they would be in if you were fishing any trout stream. When you are fly fishing the small stream, look for those areas that provide the fish with their need for protection from predators, relief from fast flowing currents, and access to food.
Fishing the pocket water
I like to use dry flies when fly fishing pocket water in a small stream. The fish will usually be holding out of the main current but close enough to grab any food that comes floating by, and a drifting fly is often too tempting to resist.
Often it is not necessary to match the fly closely to whatever is hatching. Instead I like to fish a fly that is visible enough for me to see in fast moving water. Something like a light elk hair caddis works well. When the strike comes I can see it and I catch more fish this way than missing the strike by using a less visible, hatch matching fly.
Fly fishing the small stream usually requires a more sensitive approach and a finesse that is not necessary in larger rivers. Experience and practice are the great tellers here. Ability to read the water is more critical as the fish are often more easily spooked than their big water cousins. But when you make your way home at the end of a successful fishing day in the back country you know that the time spent learning to fly fish the small stream has been worthwhile.
About the Author
Dale East is a long time outdoorsman and fly fisher and publisher of Fly Fishing Wyoming
Every River Tells a StoryThe next time you begin a... Read More
You knew it would come to this sooner or later....I... Read More
Fly fishing is addictive. Once you start, you'll never stop.... Read More
Should you approach the fishing industry for sponsorship?First let's look... Read More
Preparation is the Key To Successful Night Fishing, You Better... Read More
I just recently returned from my first fishing trip to... Read More
The use of light, either chemical or battery powered plays... Read More
Many people enjoy a nice, long fishing trip. Others enjoy... Read More
The true Angler Fish lives in both shallow and deep... Read More
Have you ever fished with a Heddon Meadow Mouse? How... Read More
When it comes to catch and release lakes, it is... Read More
A big buzz within the fishing community that is spreading... Read More
Many people know just what type of lure they want... Read More
I have to admit this subject bores me to tears.... Read More
We have a problem in our fish farms, especially Salmon.... Read More
The visibility of the line was good. As we were... Read More
Many shore anglers avoid fishing rock marks because they are... Read More
The beginner must learn to look with eyes that see.... Read More
Why Night Fishing Beats Day Fishing Any Day of the... Read More
It's late December... temperatures are racing towards 0 degrees. Ice... Read More
Great fishing supplies are an essential when it comes to... Read More
Make Small Fortune In Fishing Industry.......now there is a headline... Read More
-----SIDEBAR------------------------------------------Older fly fishing classics contain a wealth of knowledge for... Read More
If you are looking to do battle with the toughest... Read More
Often lake fish will gather in schools and cruise around... Read More
Did you know that there are five species of Pacific... Read More
The overhead cast is the most basic fly cast. Learn... Read More
As the landscape of the World Wide Web changes at... Read More
One of the greatest thrills in Pacific Northwest fly fishing... Read More
How many fish have you missed?It is said you could... Read More
Small stream nymphing is a very productive form of fly... Read More
We can learn alot from kids.Last Friday, which incidently was... Read More
It was one of those fishing trips. You know, everyone... Read More
Brook Trout: Frequently gullible, yet extremely tasty, Brook Trout are... Read More
The term stream trout is actually a term used to... Read More
Talk to a professional angler like Kevin Schweder(2003 PWT Rookie... Read More
Rainbow Trout: Few freshwater fish can match the fighting spirit... Read More
Make Small Fortune In Fishing Industry.......now there is a headline... Read More
Choosing a good rod is a major decision for the... Read More
I started keeping a fishing calendar this past year. My... Read More
Fishing on your pontoon boat can be both a relaxing... Read More
3 Lures You Must HaveDo you know what the top... Read More
Teaching a kid to fish does not have to be... Read More
Southeast Florida Swordfishing ? "Purple Fever"Once you have your tackle... Read More
Now that you have caught your dream fish, do you... Read More
Lake trout are a type of fish that are completely... Read More
You have just rolled out of bed, poured you coffee... Read More
Many people go to Florida to fish for that trophy... Read More
Jack Karpawack here.Well, as I suspected, there was no high... Read More
Did you ever plan that fishing trip to the big... Read More
Have you ever thought why fishing timbers is so productive?... Read More
Some of the baits I have used for used for... Read More
We all know that plastic worms are one of the... Read More
Want To Catch More Fish At Night, Watch the Moon!Sounds... Read More
Now that we've covered what nymph fly fishing is all... Read More
"FISH ON!!"I yelled, as my seven weight fly rod bent... Read More
One of the greatest thrills in Pacific Northwest fly fishing... Read More
Method 2The second method that works really well for me... Read More
Try doing a web search on the words "fishing lodge"... Read More
For those of you that don't know this, fishermen by... Read More
Nothing is better than to snap a photo of your... Read More
The wet fly swing sounds like something one does at... Read More
Generally an oceanic species, the swordfish is primarily a midwater... Read More
For Hunting, fishing, hiking, boating or cycling in all kinds... Read More
Every River Tells a StoryThe next time you begin a... Read More
High fuel prices got you down?Imagine how most of us... Read More
Fishing |